Football's world showpiece kicks in to full swing this summer, find everything you need to know about the FIFA World Cup here
Where and when does the FIFA World Cup take place?
The FIFA World Cup finals kick off on June 12 in Sao Paulo when hosts Brazil take on Croatia, kick off is at 9:00pm BST.
You can watch that game live on ITV1.
Brazil is the host nation for the second time in the tournament's history, but it's the first time that the FIFA World Cup has been held outside Europe for two consecutive years.
A total of 64 matches across 12 cities in either brand new stadiums or redeveloped stadiums.
For the first time in history goal-line technology will be used at the finals.
Who is taking part?
What the bookies say: Brazil are clear favourites to win the group at 1/4 and 1/19 to simply qualify. It would be a major upset if the hosts were not to get out of their group but it surely won't be an issue as the current crop of players go in search of Brazil's sixth World Cup.
What the bookies say:
Spain are favourites to qualify at 2/9 and understandably so, they are
the current holders of both the World Cup and the European Championship
but if you're feeling lucky you can get 100/1 on Australia to win this
group.
What the bookies say:
This is a much closer group than the first two but Columbia are
favourites (1/3) to qualify, however it remains unclear if their star
striker Radamel Falcao will be fit to take part after he tore his ACL in
January, requiring surgery. The recovery time for such an injury is 6 -
9 months but the Colombians surgeon is confident Falcao will be fit.
Don't forget the Greeks, they know a thing or two about causing an upset
at major tournaments and are the outsiders to qualify at 5/2.
What the bookies say:
This is the most unpredictable group of the tournament, you could form a
solid case for three of the teams to be favourites but only two can go
through. Uruguay and Italy are joint favourites to qualify at 1/2.
England are 4/6 with Costa Rica out at 12/1. The Uruguayans have a
dangerous strike force in Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani but have an
under whelming midfield. Italian head coach Cesare Prandelli has used 42
players in the last 12 international matches but with the likes of
Mario Balotelli, Riccardo Montolivo and Emanuele Giaccherini in their
ranks, they're sure to play a part.
Gallery: Players to look out for in Brazil
View gallery
What the bookies say:
Despite having to go into the playoffs to get to Brazil, France are
clear favourites at 1/5 to qualify which is largely down to the draw
being very kind to Les Bleus.
What the bookies say:
Argentina are overwhelming favourites in this group, they are 1/19 to
get out of the group and chances are they will do it at a canter. Head
coach Alejandro Sabella could probably get away with resting the likes
of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero as the three group games will be
little more than a training session for his players.
What the bookies say:
The bookmakers think that both
Germany (1/6) and Portugal (4/7) are going to qualify, which is likely
to happen provided Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo gets the service
he needs. The third favourite to qualify is the USA at 3/1 who will be
hoping to toss a spanner in the works.
The FIFA World Cup finals kick off on June 12 in Sao Paulo when hosts Brazil take on Croatia, kick off is at 9:00pm BST.
You can watch that game live on ITV1.
Brazil is the host nation for the second time in the tournament's history, but it's the first time that the FIFA World Cup has been held outside Europe for two consecutive years.
A total of 64 matches across 12 cities in either brand new stadiums or redeveloped stadiums.
For the first time in history goal-line technology will be used at the finals.
Who is taking part?
Group
|
A
|
Brazil
|
Croatia
|
Cameroon
|
Mexico
|
What the bookies say: Brazil are clear favourites to win the group at 1/4 and 1/19 to simply qualify. It would be a major upset if the hosts were not to get out of their group but it surely won't be an issue as the current crop of players go in search of Brazil's sixth World Cup.
Group
|
B
|
Australia
|
Netherlands
|
Chile
|
Spain
|
Group
|
C
|
Columbia
|
Ivory Coast
|
Greece
|
Japan
|
Group
|
D
|
Costa Rica
|
Italy
|
England
|
Uruguay
|
Gallery: Players to look out for in Brazil
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Group
|
E
|
Ecuador
|
Honduras
|
France
|
Switzerland
|
Group
|
F
|
Argentina
|
Iran
|
Bosnia & Herzegovina
|
Nigeria
|
Group
|
G
|
Germany
|
Portugal
|
Ghana
|
USA
|
Group
|
H
|
Algeria
|
Korean Republic
|
Belgium
|
Russia
|
What the bookies say:
Belgium are 1/5 favourites to get out of group H with the likes of
Christian Benteke, Eden Hazard, Kevin Mirallas and Vincent Kompany in
their ranks they have all bases covered and on paper are a world class
outfit.
FIFA World Cup 2014 in the media
Things are looking up in Brazil! Later this week, the country's president Dilma Rousseff is expected to open the new Itaquerao stadium in São Paolo. The celebrations mean that there will be a pitch, with most of a building around it and perhaps even a bench and a dressing room. Hurrah! Tom Bryant - Guardian
Anti-World Cup campaigners in Brazil have threatened demonstrations during the showcase tournament next month but FIFA insisted Monday that it would be an unfair target. Yahoo! News
England's bid for World Cup glory in Brazil this summer could be undone by a much-feared weather phenomenon. Climate researchers at the University of Reading say there is a 60% chance of an El Nino event hitting the country.
The scientists say the complicated meteorological system is likely to cause extremely dry and sunny weather in June and July. Matt McGrath - BBC News
FIFA World Cup 2014 in the media
Things are looking up in Brazil! Later this week, the country's president Dilma Rousseff is expected to open the new Itaquerao stadium in São Paolo. The celebrations mean that there will be a pitch, with most of a building around it and perhaps even a bench and a dressing room. Hurrah! Tom Bryant - Guardian
Anti-World Cup campaigners in Brazil have threatened demonstrations during the showcase tournament next month but FIFA insisted Monday that it would be an unfair target. Yahoo! News
England's bid for World Cup glory in Brazil this summer could be undone by a much-feared weather phenomenon. Climate researchers at the University of Reading say there is a 60% chance of an El Nino event hitting the country.
The scientists say the complicated meteorological system is likely to cause extremely dry and sunny weather in June and July. Matt McGrath - BBC News